Why Epstein Feels Bigger Than Epstein
We should not speculate, but it is hard not to
Why is the Epstein story so powerful?
It is not just what he did. It is that he could do it. He got away with heinous acts, and there was little investigation for a long time.
Epstein is dead. Yet, he still haunts the world.
He is not just a man, but a symbol.
Epstein represents failure of authority, corruption, and the breakdown of institutions. He confirms cynics in their worldly distrust. Those already suspicious of power can freely project their biggest concerns onto his story.
The tale of Jeffrey Epstein proved some of it is true, so why not all of it?
Epstein’s influence is best described through a metaphor.
Maybe you are walking on the street, and glance into the room of a colossal building. Inside that room, dehumanizing crimes are casually committed. Once they see you look in, the blinds are shut.
If you admit to yourself what you just saw, it leaves you stuck with a nagging question: What on earth is going on inside the rest of the building?
It is unlikely that the other rooms are sparkly clean.
Epstein exposed a level of corruption that we still do not grasp the depth of. It implicated the entire system protecting him: refusing to bring the evidence to light. Despite partial releases, the complicity of others remains unclear.
How far do the tentacles reach - and where do they come from?
The crimes were committed for a long time before they were investigated. Even then, they were investigated insufficiently. This taints the legitimacy of modern powers, because it reveals something about the morality of their leadership.
For this reason, the Epstein story has captured public consciousness.
It also intersects with multiple taboos.
Sexual abuse of minors, elite power, and systemic secrecy provoke the imagination, especially for conspiracy theorists. Their conclusions are typically unwarranted. But their concerns are not.
Through fearmongering, the toxicity of Epstein even works through those who condemn him most severely.
Epstein faced an inadequate reckoning.
The evidence was not brought to trial. There were no testimonies in his federal case. Hence, the public was left with questions.
This psychological vacuum is filled by speculation.
The result is distrust.
Authorities either allowed the abuse or failed to address it. It left the impression that they were choosing self-preservation over justice. If that were true, their legitimacy should be questioned.
A just society addresses injustice. Epstein wrecked that expectation.
He dealt a devastating blow to trust in institutions.
When authority erodes, conspiracy theorists gain ground.
They spread distrust. Distrust turns into fear. And fear fuels paranoia.
Speculation results from pressing questions. When there are few legitimate insights, people are left aching for answers.
Sadly, their hunger for the truth allows bad actors to feed them lies.
Epstein symbolizes shattered trust.
He embodies the fractured mandate of modern powers. Some scepticism towards authority is always warranted. Full scepticism towards authority is always premature.
Compromised journalists may marginalize the Epstein case. Conspiracy theorists may exaggerate it.
But evidence has no agenda, so let us pray it all surfaces.